North Devon

North Devon's population increased by about 6,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of North Devon increased by 7.0%, from about 87,500 to 93,700.

The addition of almost 6,200 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Devon was home to, on average, 0.61 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Devon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Devon increased by two years, from 43 to 45 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 14.0% of people in North Devon are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Devon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

North Devon saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just under one in two (49.7%) people aged 16 to 74 in North Devon said they were employed, compared with 47.6% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed decreased from 3.3% to 3.0%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 50.5% to 53.8%) and East Devon (from 45.5% to 48.5%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of employed people.

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in North Devon

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in North Devon was among those who said they had no religion, rising 14.2 points.

In 2011, 31.5% of respondents in North Devon gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 17.4% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in North Devon, 67.0% said they were Christian, compared with 81.7% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 8.1% to 8.6%.

In North Devon, 8.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.1% in 2001. In South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in North Devon increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and North Devon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in North Devon

The percentage of North Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of North Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.7% to 89.0%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in North Devon that rented privately increased from 13.1% to 18.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 10.7%, while the percentage of North Devon households that owned their home decreased from 73.3% to 68.5%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 17.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in North Devon increased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Devon, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in North Devon

The percentage of married people fell in North Devon at a faster rate than in Somerset West and Taunton (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with North Devon).

In North Devon, the proportion of married people decreased from 56.3% in 2001 to 51.7% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Somerset West and Taunton decreased from 53.0% to 50.5%.

Across the South West, the share of married people decreased from 53.2% to 49.1%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in North Devon increased from 23.4% to 27.8%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10.8% to 12.3%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Devon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.8% to 5.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67.9% in 2001. The percentage of North Devon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.4% to 14.2%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Devon decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Devon, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in North Devon working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.1% to 11.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in North Devon decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Devon, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in North Devon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 9.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.6%) households had only one person, compared with 27.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in North Devon which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 38.5% to 34.3%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 10.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in North Devon increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Devon, the South West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of North Devon residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.1% to 2.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in North Devon remained close to 2.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Devon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in North Devon with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.5% to 8.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.1%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26.9% in 2001. While the percentage of households in North Devon without children remained close to 65.0%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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